Schmeichel: Cunha is an important signal

Former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel believes the club’s early transfer dealings this summer are a positive step in the right direction.

The Great Dane was part of incredible United squads from 1991 to 1999, including, of course, our Treble-winning side in his final year with the club.

He therefore knows a thing or two about what it takes to perform at the highest level with the Reds, and what a promising new addition looks like.

We confirmed the signing of Matheus Cunha earlier this month, and it’s a move that ticks a lot of boxes for Schmeichel.

“It’s a positive one,” the former shot-stopper told MUTV while working at Soccer Aid. “I think what we haven’t done, for a number of years, is to sign really, really good and well performing players from the Premier League.

“And, for that to be the first signing, that is an important signal to send to everyone.”

Cunha has certainly proved he’s a top performer in England’s top tier, notching 15 goals and providing six assists in the league for former side Wolverhampton Wanderers last term.

The Brazilian arrives with a pedigree that Schmeichel feels has been lacking in previous windows.

The ex-gloveman continued: “We’ve signed too many hopefuls, who have done well in other leagues. I don’t want to disrespect any other leagues but the Premier League is just played at a different pace. It’s relentless for 90 minutes every time. You don’t have a moment to relax.

“Playing in the Premier League is just more difficult than any other league.

“We’ve seen players who haven’t performed particularly well, with us as well, go abroad and you can see, all of a sudden, they can play football because it’s different.”

Widely regarded as the world’s most elite division, the Premier League is noted, as Schmeichel alludes to, for its intensity, speed and physicality.

Not everyone can adjust, but in Cunha we’ve got a player who doesn’t need to.

That, for Schmeichel, is one of the most crucial aspects of the forward’s move to Old Trafford, and a key ingredient for success.

“It’s nice we’ve signed within the Premier League,” the Dane added. “And, sometimes, you have to pay a little bit more for that.”

Our first pre-season game of Tour 2025, presented by Snapdragon, sees us face Leeds United in Sweden on 19 July, in what may provide us our first glimpse of Cunha in action for the Reds. Find out more here.

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